Easel



' '2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. O 0 OP E R.

EASBL.

(H0 Model.)

' Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

Wifgzsszs (fie-Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet '2.

- H. COOPER. EASE'L- Patent-ed Jan. 12, 1897..

' Zm lllllm:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY COOPER, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

EASEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,026, dated January 12, 1897.

Application filed .TulyG, 1896. serial No. 598,171. [No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Easel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to easels designed either for parlor or studio use.

The object of the present invention is to improve the general construction of easels and to provide an easel having a sliding picturerest, the latter being provided with a novel form of clutch mechanism for holding the sliding rest at any desired elevation.

Another object is to provide, in connection with such easel, a picture-en gaging hook having a sliding fulcrum and adapted to be held at any point and to retain the picture at any desired pitch upon the easel.

' The invention also aims to provide an auxiliary folding rest for holding a model or stud y while the artist is engaged at work, the said auxiliary rest being adapted to be folded out of engagement when not required for use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subj oin ed description.

The invention consists in an easel embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an easel constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail elevation of the sliding rest-frame, the shelf portion thereof being removed to show the clutch mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the easel, showing the picture-hook and the means for adjusting and holding the same. Fig. tis a detail rear elevation showing the auxiliary rest in its folded position.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a substantially rectangular easelframe, the side bars 2 of which are provided in their inner adjacent surfaces with longitudinal grooves 3, in which the side bars of the rest-frame move when the latter is adjusted. The easel-frame 1 is supported at any desired elevation upon suitable legs 4, of plain or ornamental design, and is provided with a fixed rest or shelf 5, upon which apicture may be placed.

6 designates a V-shaped prop consisting of upwardly-divergin g bars hinged at their upper ends to the top of the easel-frame, said bars being united at their lower ends and serving by their inclination to form a thorough brace and support for the easel-frame.

The sliding rest-frame comprises parallel side bars 7, connected at suitable points by the cross-bars 8. The lower portion or cross bar of the sliding frame is provided with a facial recess or mortise 9 to receive the clutch mechanism, which will now be described. In each end of the recess 9 and located immediately adjacent to the side bars of the easelframe is a friction-clutch 10 in the form of a cam fulcrumed at the point 11. From each clutch or cam a rod or link 12 extends inward toward the center of the frame and connects pivotally with an oscillating finger-lever 13, fulcrumed intermediate its ends in a recess in the lower portion of the sliding frame. A pair of these fin ger-levers is employed, and they are arranged equidistant from and on opposite sides of the vertical center of the frame. The rods 12 connect pivotallywith the cam-clutches 10 and extend across the adjacent finger-lever'and connect with the opposing lever, as shown in Fig. 2. One of said rods passes under or behind lever 13, while the other rod passes in front of the same. A coiled spring 14 is interposed between the upper end of each finger-lever 12 and a fixed point in the recess 9, and the tension of these springs is exerted upon the finger-levers and through the connecting-rods 12 to hold the cam-shaped clutches in frictional engagement with the side bars of the easel-frame. By rocking the lower ends of the finger-levers toward each other the clutches are withdrawn from such frictional engagement, and the sliding frame may thereupon be adjusted up or down. Upon releasing the levers 12 the sliding frame will be held against further movement in either direction.

15 indicates the horizontal shelf or rest proper, which is attached to the bottom of the sliding frame, and 16 represents a coveringpiece for inclosing the clutch mechanism and concealing the same from View, while also protecting the same from dirt, dust, the.

17 designates a slide bar reciprocating through metal loops or keepers 18, attached to one of the side bars of the easel-frame and having pivotally connected to its upper end a hook 18, adapted to engage over the top of the picture and hold the same at any desired pitch, such, for instance, as the picture will assume when hung in the usual manner upon a wall, the object being to obtain the same light upon the picture that it will have when hung. The object in providing the hook with a sliding fulcrum is to accommodate pictures of different sizes, the slide-bar 17 being clutched and held at any point of its throw by means of a cam or dog 19, pivotally mounted at one side of the easelframe and adapted to be brought to bear with the requisite pressure against such slide-bar.

20 designates an auxiliary rest, which consists of a frame hinged to one of the side bars of the easel-frame, whereby it is adapted to be swung into the same plane with the caselframe, as shown in I i g. 1, or to be swung backward behind the easel-frame and to occupy a position in the rear thereof, as shown in Figfli. \Vhen in its operative position, it is engaged and held. by means of a hook 22 011 one frame engaging over a pin or stud 011 the other frame, and when the auxiliary rest is in its folded position it is engaged and held by another 1100]: arranged in rear of the easelframe and indicated at 23 in Fig. 4.

24: indicates a pair of chains or flexible connections interposed between the easel-frame and the prop 6 for preventing said parts from moving apart to too great an extent.

The construction above described affords a very convenient and useful easel which is adapted either for use in a parlor or studio.

It will be seen that the sliding rest may be raised or lowered to any point and held at such point by means of the clutch mechanism described and which is automaticin its action.

Other pictures may be supported upon the easel in addition to the one placed upon the sliding rest, and the folding auxiliary rest may be readily folded into or out of position for use.

Any desired ornamental iinish may be given to the several parts of the easel. The camshaped clutches may be composed of an y suitable material and may be faced with leather or equivalei'lt material, if desired, for giving the same a greater frictional hold.

It will be understood that the construction described is susceptible of changes in the form, proportion, and minor details, which may accordingly be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination with an easel, an auxiliary rest hinged to the side of the casel-frame and adapted to be folded into the same plane therewith or to a position in rear thereof, and fastening means for holding said auxiliary rest in either of such positions, substantially as described.

2. In an easel, the combination of a verti' cally-adjustable rest, clutches located at the sides of the rest and adapted to engage with the main frame of the easel for holding the rest at an adjusted position, finger-levers f ulcrumed to the rest and having independent connection with the clutches, and springs operating directly on the finger-levers to normally hold the clutches in engagement with the frame of the easel, substantially as set forth.

3. In an ease-l, the combination of a vertically-adjustable rest, friction-clutches pivoted to the rest adjacent to the edges thereof, finger-levers fulcrumed midway of their ends to the said rest, rods connecting the finger-lo vers with the pivoted clutches and having pivotal connection with each, and springs conneetin g the endsof the finger-levers with the rest for normally holding the clutches in engagement with the frame of the easel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

a. In combination with an easel-frame, a slide-bar moving through loops or keepers attached to one of the side bars of the easel, a picture-holding hook pivotally connected to said slide-bar and adapted to fold beside the slide-bar and into the plane of the easel-frame, and a dog for holding said slide-bar at any adjustment, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY COOPER.

\Vitncsses:

W. W. IInnnoN, E. 1). HENRY. 

